HILLARY Clinton has vowed to launch a hunt to capture or kill Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as part of her proposed intelligence surge if she becomes US President.

The former secretary of state has put improving American intelligence agencies at the top of her manifesto on national security.

Now the Democratic nominee has, for the first time, elaborated on exactly what she plans to do if she takes office.

Her campaign’s comments come just days before the first key Presidential debate - and after New York and New Jersey faced two days of terror atrocities ahead of the capture and arrest of suspected bomber Ahmad Rahami following a police shoot out.

Since her campaign launched, plans for an “intelligence surge” to be used in the fight against Islamic extremism have been among almost all Mrs Clinton’s election promises.

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Yet so far in the campaign, the White House hopeful and her aides have said little about the details of her plans - until now.

Mrs Clinton has now thrown her support behind an intensified hunt for Baghdadi, expending “significant resources” - in a throw back to Barack Obama’s successful operation to find and kill Osama bin Laden.

Speaking to The Guardian, Laura Rosenberger, a senior Clinton foreign policy adviser, said: “She really would put a concerted focus on that, really going after him in particular.”

Speaking earlier this month from her campaign plane, Mrs Clinton said she planned to “make it a top priority to hunt down the leader of ISIS”.

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Obama lead a successful operation to track down bin Laden

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Clinton hopes to replicate Obama's successful mission

She said: ‘‘Getting al-Baghdadi will require efforts at the top levels, but it will send a resounding message that nobody directs or inspires attacks against the United States and gets away with it.’’

Mrs Clinton and Mr Trump have clashed repeatedly over foreign policy but following the latest attacks in New Jersey and New York, tensions have been heightened.

Now her top aides have highlighted her plans to protect national security, just days after the potential deadly attacks unfolded.

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Islamic State fighters in Syria have reportedly blown up the ancient ruins of Palmyra, an ancient World Heritage home to renowned Roman-era ruins.

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Domestically, Mrs Clinton’s advisers say the challenge is to match and thwart the way terrorism has transitioned from large-scale attacks directed by established terrorist groups to small-scale assaults by lone-wolf perpetrators.

The campaign team suggest it will need to carry out a “balancing” act between civil liberties and security - ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place to detect and deter those who may becoming self-radicalised.

The top is of particular significance in the recent waves of domestic attacks.

Both the Orlando nightclub gunman and the accused New York bomber had previously been the subject of an FBI investigators.

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Clinton's campaign made the comments in the days before the first Presidential debate

However both were ultimately ended over a supposed lack of evidence of imminent action.

Now the fight against ISIS must adapt to keep up with the changing nature of terror, as more and more lone wolf suspects carry out some of the world’s biggest attacks.